French bistro vibes, decent pours, solid value
Downtown / Market Street · Lancaster · French-Inspired Bistro · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 18, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed C'est La Vie’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The list is short — 20 labels — but it carries itself with some self-awareness. You're not drowning in options, which in a cozy bistro setting actually works. The French-leaning identity comes through, even if California crashes the party more than it should.
France anchors the list with names like Gustave Lorentz and Gratien & Meyer, which earns immediate respect for a spot this size. California fills out the red side with Siduri Pinot Noir, Daou Cab, and Decoy sparkling — recognizable, food-friendly, nothing offensive. Argentina and Italy round things out without much depth, more like supporting cast than headliners. There are genuine gaps: no Burgundy, no Loire, no real Rhône presence, which feels like a missed opportunity for a French bistro to lean all the way in.
Here's the legitimately impressive part: every single wine on the list is available by the glass. Twenty options, $10 to $18, means you can graze through an entire dinner without committing to a bottle. The happy hour deal — $8 house wine and bubbles Tuesday through Friday at the bar — makes this an even easier yes for a weeknight stop.
Gustave Lorentz Riesling — $14
Lorentz is a serious Alsatian producer making structured, food-friendly Riesling. At $14 a glass in a sit-down bistro, that's a genuine win — most restaurants charge this for something half as interesting.
Gratien & Meyer Crémant Rosé
Most people reach for the Decoy Sparkling without looking twice. The Gratien & Meyer Crémant Rosé is the smarter move — a Loire Valley house making traditional-method bubbles that punch well above what the average table expects from a bistro wine list.
Bouchard Chardonnay
Bouchard makes a lot of Chardonnay at a lot of price points, and without knowing exactly which bottling this is, $18 a glass feels like the safe, lazy pour. The Lorentz Riesling at $14 is a more interesting glass for less money.
Gratien & Meyer Crémant Rosé + Charcuterie Board
Traditional-method bubbles and cured meats are a classic combination — the acidity cuts through fat, the bubbles reset your palate between bites, and the rosé color plays well on a bistro table.
Tuesday–Friday — Happy Hour at the bar only, 3–6PM and 8–9PM. House wine and bubbles by the glass drop to $8.
The Bottom Line
C'est La Vie isn't trying to be a destination wine bar, and it doesn't need to be — for Lancaster, a fully by-the-glass list with Alsatian Riesling and Crémant at fair prices is genuinely worth a detour to the bar. Send your wine-curious friends here on a Tuesday.
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Small but Thoughtful
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Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
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Plays It Safe
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Deep & Eclectic
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Basic Stemmed
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Small but Thoughtful
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Small but Thoughtful
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Small but Thoughtful
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Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
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Solid Range
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Colette's wine list is competent, French, and squarely aimed at guests who want familiar names and aren't flinching at the prices. It won't surprise you, but it won't let you down either — and in Jackson Hole, that's not nothing.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
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Acceptable
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